Baba, Put me into the fire of suffering, but….

Baba, Put me into the fire of suffering, but….

 

"This pain, I know, is for repaying past Karma." – Sri Sai Satcharitra, Ch. XXXIV.

 

A blacksmith, who deeply loved God, had to face many a suffering and sickness. One of his acquaintances was an unbeliever. He said to him, one day, "How can you lay your trust in God who sends suffering and sickness to you?"

 

Quietly answered the blacksmith, "When I have to make a tool, I take a piece of iron and put it into the fire. Then I strike it on the anvil to see if it will take temper. If it does, I know I can make something useful out of it. If not, I toss it on the scrap-heap. This has made me pray to the Lord, again and again. "Lord! Put me into the fire of suffering but, pray, do not throw me on the scrap-heap."